After agreeing to terms with seven free agents and trading for Duran Harmon over the first four days of free agency, the Detroit Lions spent the fifth day boosting their special teams.
Earlier today they added nickelback/gunner Tony McRae and now they announced they have once again agreed to terms with safety/linebacker Miles Killebrew.
“Killebrew joined the Lions as a fourth-round selection (111th overall) in the 2016 NFL Draft out of Southern Utah,” the Lions said in a press release. “He has appeared in 63 career games (four starts) and has logged 56 tackles (45 solo), six pass defenses, two interceptions and one interception returned for a touchdown. Killebrew has also contributed 37 special teams tackles (33 solo) in his career.”
In 2019, Killebrew only played on 87 defensive snaps, typically at WILL linebacker, but he is a dynamic special teams player and saw 344 snaps in five different phases — punt coverage, punt return, kickoff coverage, kickoff return, and field goal/extra point blocking team.
Killebrew’s best path to the 53-man roster has always been on special teams and he will once again face stiff competition this year. Like Killebrew, Jalen Reeves-Maybin, Jayron Kearse, Steve Longa, and Jason Cabinda are all experienced special teamers and will be fighting for only a few available spots.
That being said, according to Pro Football Focus, last season Killebrew was the second-highest graded Lions’ player on special teams behind only Reeves-Maybin. If he can repeat his performance and continue to execute in the third phase of the game, the Lions will reward him with another season on the roster.
Full terms of Killebrew’s contract with the Lions were not released at the time this article was published, so stay tuned to Lions Wire for more updates.